Heated 'TMZ Live' exchange for Kanye West

Posted May 01 2018 11:27PM CDT

Video Posted May 01 2018 11:06PM CDT

Updated May 01 2018 11:42PM CDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Rapper/producer Kanye West is making news again and unfortunately, not for his music. During an appearance on "TMZ Live," he discussed everything from an opioid addiction he says happened after pressure from the media forced him to get liposuction to slavery and his admiration for President Donald Trump.

It was that exchange that prompted an explosive response from TMZ editor Van Lathan.

"It's quite possible to have your own opinion and not throw your own community under the bus or ignore the truth and that's what he's doing," describes Willie D. about West's recent behavior.

"His cheese done slid off his omelet," says Z-Ro about West.

"He definitely wants record sales from this new album, but the question is, at what cost?," asks Muhammad.

Before the last one had a chance to simmer down, Kanye West caused another stir, calling American slavery a "choice" in an interview Tuesday.

"When you hear about slavery for 400 years, for 400 years, that sounds like choice," West said on "TMZ Live" after questions on his pro-President Donald Trump posts and pictures that caused a dust-up last week. "You was there for 400 years, and it's all of y'all?"

"Do you feel like I'm thinking free and feeling free?" West asked the TMZ employees in the room.

"I actually don't think you're thinking anything," TMZ's Van Lathan quickly cracked back at West, as many would in the ensuing hours.

Lathan said while West gets to live the elite artist's life, "the rest of us in society have to deal with these threats in our lives. We have to deal with the marginalization that has come from the 400 years of slavery that you said for our people was our choice."

Symone D. Sanders, political commentator and CNN contributor, led the anti-West chorus on Twitter.

"Kanye is a dangerous caricature of a 'free-thinking' black person in America," Sanders tweeted. "Frankly, I am disgusted and I'm over it. Also (I can't believe I have to say this): Slavery was far from a choice."

West also told TMZ that he became addicted to opioids that doctors prescribed after he had liposuction surgery in 2016. He was hospitalized for a week and had to cut short his "Pablo" tour. West said the painkillers drove him to a "breakdown," which became a "breakthrough" when he found himself again.

West also doubled down on his love of the president, which Trump has been returning in tweets.

"I just love Trump," West said, adding that most in hip-hop agreed with him before Trump became president. "Trump is one of rap's favorite people."